Also all over Anderson, but that wasn’t quite as critical.
I disposed of the condom in his bathroom and hopped into the shower. While managing to keep my hair dry, I also washed away the remnants of our mind-blowing lovemaking session.
My stomach had rumbled.
Remembering the nights of eating brownies after making love, back all those years ago, I decided to heat up the lava cake. I’dcoax some into him and we’d either make love again, or he’d at least let me clean him up.
As the microwave beeped, I heard a noise.
When the final beep sounded, a young woman appeared in the doorway of the kitchen.
Yeah, no doubt who this is.
That was my first thought. The second, and far more important, was to thank Christ I’d put on my boxers and jeans. Even though they weren’t done up.
All the blinds were closed against the dark near-winter night…so I’d considered not putting anything on.
“I’m Adele.” Boldly, she held out her hand.
I took her hand. Her grip impressed me as we shook. “Jarrod.”
Finally, she let me go. “I figured. Uncle Damien said something about Dad meeting up with an old friend. Since he has never, to my knowledge, brought someone home, I didn’t think anything of coming home.”
“It’s almost midnight.” A glance at the microwave clock told me that.
“Paget started throwing up. At first Uncle Shaw thought she just ate too much popcorn—which wouldn’t be like her, but we all get upset stomachs from time to time.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Uncle Damian took her temperature, and it’s super high. I decided I’d rather come home than risk catching something.” She pointed to the microwave. “That said, we sat next to each other at the cinema, were all in my car, and then we crashed in the media room at their house. I’d say if she’s sick, I probably have it too. Still, I just wanted to come home.”
“And they just let you leave?”
She waved me off. “I sent a DM to the family chain when I got home. Uncle Shaw responded that Paget’s still sick and to take care.” She eyed me. “I’m seventeen.”
“I’m aware.” I opened the microwave and gingerly pulled the plate out. I put it on the kitchen table.
“Oh my God. Is that lava cake from Fifties?” She might’ve squealed that.
“You’re welcome to have some. Is your stomach okay?” I didn’t want to feed her something that might make her ill later.
She waved me off again. “I’m fine. Rock-solid stomach. Paget’s always been a bit sensitive. I’m more like Sedona—a rock.”
“These are Shaw and Damien’s twins?” I opened the first cupboard and found glasses. I pulled three down. “Water? Milk?”
“Yeah, they’re the twins.” She cocked her head. “So how much of anold friendare you to my dad. I’ll get the milk.” She headed to the fridge.
I blinked. “We…well…college.” I cleared my throat.
“So before I was born.”
“Yeah.”
“Uh-huh. You know, he never talks about that. Grandma used to tell me about his talent acting.”
“She never came to see his shows.”
Her gaze shot to mine. “She worried she’d make him too nervous. I think, later on, she regretted that. Especially when she couldn’t convince him to try amateur theater out here.”
